Merrill Scholars honor mentors who inspired them
By Ben Badua, Student and Campus Life
Senior Carolina Aguilera-Garza’s journey to Cornell began in Paul Gaba’s classroom. It was there that one of the top scholars at the College of Arts and Sciences honed her debate skills, shaped her passion for politics and found her voice.
“As someone who wants to be a public servant and be an advocate, not only did you help me find my voice, but you helped me find it in a way that would bring positive change to the world,” said Aguilera-Garza, a government and American studies double major with a minor in law and society, expressing gratitude for the lifelong lessons she learned from Paul Gaba, her high school debate coach – “not only a teacher and a mentor, but a friend that I will carry with me forever.”